Turkish PM’s wife, FM to visit Arakan to deliver aid

DHAKA: Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s wife and Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu will travel to Myanmar’s Arakan province on Wednesday to deliver aid to Rohingya Muslims.

The Muslims in Myanmar’s Arakan province, now renamed Rakhain State, have been forced to flee their homes on account of the violence there and who now face hunger, thirst and disease.

Erdoğan announced the plans during a TV programme on Sunday night, stating that a delegation, including his wife Emine and daughter Sümeyye, will pay a visit to Arakan on Wednesday. Foreign Minister Davutoğlu will also join the delegation.

The Turkish Prime Ministry has also recently launched an aid campaign for Rohingya Muslims, reports Today’s Zaman.

Releasing a notice that was published in the Official Gazette on Sunday, the Prime Ministry said thousands of Muslims from Arakan are seeking shelter as refugees in neighbouring countries and that they are facing life-threatening conditions.

BDST: 1952 HRS, AUG 7, 2012

Edited by Robab Rosan, Cultural Affairs Editor